Change the way you think

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

Proverbs 18:21 NLT

God, I want to submit to You. Please fill my mind with thoughts that honor You and other people, so that way my words bring life and encouragement to everyone. Transform me into a new person by changing the way I think—and the way I speak. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

God's Presence

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

Isaiah 43:2 NLT

God, You know me. You know what I am facing, and what I’ve already overcome. Please draw near to me right now. Please remind me that You are near me. Show me glimpses of Your faithfulness in this season. Restore my hope and my joy, and teach me how to place my trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memorial Day 2023

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

John 15:13 NLT

Jesus, please teach me how to be kind and selfless. Help me to show how much I love You by loving others the way You’ve asked me to. Remove bitterness, pettiness, and selfishness from me. Root my life in Your love so that only loving actions become the fruit of my life. Amen.

Pray for Boldness

And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

Acts of the Apostles 4:29‭-‬31 NLT

God, fill me with Your power and boldness. I know You hear each and every prayer. Give me the courage to bring hard things before You and also share them with others. Thank You for the freedom to bring You anything on my heart. Help me fight my fears with faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Make disciples

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 28:19 NLT

God, I am Your disciple. Please teach me how to live a life that reflects who You are. As I grow in my faith, provide me with a community where we can teach and support one another. Help us to live out Jesus’ model for living well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pray in the Spirit

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Ephesians 6:18 NLT

God, thank You for always being willing to hear what’s on my heart. I know there are people in my life who need to experience Your love, healing, and guidance—and I want to support them. When I come to You, remind me to also bring the needs of others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Spirit of Truth

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

John 16:13 NLT

God, fill me with Your Spirit and guide me into truth. Help me overcome my fears to shine Your truth into the darkness. Forgive me when I fight against Your wisdom and go my own way. Guide me into the freedom and joy that only comes from following Your path. In Jesus' name, Amen.

A changed life

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Colossians 3:12 NLT

God, I am Your child. You have set me apart and adopted me into Your eternal family. So please shape my heart. Teach me how to act in a way that honors You. Remove any patterns of behavior in my life that displease You, and replace them with characteristics that show how much I love You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Everlasting love

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38‭-‬39 NLT

God, thank You for Your everlasting love. I am so grateful and amazed that You love someone like me. Your love is greater than my fears, my anxiety, my failures, or my sins. Nothing in the entire universe can separate me from You. Praise be Your holy name! Amen.

Transform me

1Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?

1 Corinthians 3:16 NLT

God, please help me to love people the way that You love me. Replace any pride, bitterness, selfishness, or critical self-righteousness with love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness. Teach me how to treat others with gentleness and respect, so that way I can build up Your global Church, and not tear it down. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The gift of peace

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

John 14:27 NLT

God, thank You for Your promise of peace. I may face uncertain and frightening things in this life, but I know You are bigger than my problems. As I walk with You today, help me to remember that no matter what I encounter, You are good. You promise to always be with me—and that brings me peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

No more pain

He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Revelation 21:4 NLT

Father God, thank You for deeply caring about who I am. I’m so grateful that one day, You will take away all the pain and hardship I’ve experienced. But until that day comes, I will trust You and cling to You. I will place my hope in You. I will bring You my pain, and allow You to comfort me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Trust in God

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.

John 14:1‭-‬3 NLT

Jesus, I trust You. I don’t need to understand everything that’s happening—I just need to be still, and know You. You fight for me. You died for me. You are for me. Thank You. You are enough for me—and so I will place my hope, trust, joy, and future in You. I believe in You. Amen.

Living a Spirit-filled life

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts of the Apostles 1:8 NLT

Father God, You are faithful! Nothing is impossible for You because all authority is Yours. Thank You for giving me access to this authority through Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for allowing me to draw near to You. Please show me how to walk with Your boldness through life. As I seek You, guide me and teach me how to confidently disciple others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Wisdom

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

James 1:5 NLT

God, You are more than willing to give Your wisdom to me. You want me to know how to live a godly life. Please make me eager to listen and discern Your voice. Give me a desire to obey You so that when You speak, I act with joy-filled faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Knowing God Better

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Psalms 119:11 NLT

God, show me how to better know and love You. Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit and wisdom. Teach me how to serve You and love others. I desire to read Your truth and talk to You, in good times and in difficult seasons. Strengthen our relationship. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Knowing God

asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

Ephesians 1:17 NLT

God, show me how to better know and love You. Thank You for the gift of Your Spirit and wisdom. Teach me how to serve You and love others. I desire to read Your truth and talk to You, in good times and in difficult seasons. Strengthen our relationship. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Happy Mother's Day

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.

Proverbs 31:25‭-‬26 NLT

Dear Lord, I approach you to give thanks to all mothers who so generously and freely give love, comfort, and guidance to their children every day. I ask you, Lord, to give them the strength to continue their work. Give them patience and let them see that they are loved, appreciated, and respected. I thank you for the sacrifice each mother makes every day. And I pray you to bless them and touch them with your Grace. I pray this in your mighty name. Amen.

Teach me to do Your will

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

Psalms 143:10 NLT

God, You are good and Your mercy endures forever! When I consider all that You have done - Your great power and Your great restraint - I am overwhelmed. You are so kind to us, and You never fail or give up on us. Thank you. Align my heart with Yours today so I can give you the glory You deserve! In Jesus Name, Amen!

You are known

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

John 1:12 NLT

God, thank You for loving me. You see me as I truly am, and You still accept me! Today, I bring all my false labels and names to You. You know what I’ve been called, and what I’ve believed about myself. Please replace any false narratives with Your truth: that I am Your child, and greatly loved by You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Live differently

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1 NLT

God, thank You for sending Your Son so that way I can experience mercy and grace instead of a condemning sentence. Thank You for erasing my past. Please help me to see myself the way You see me: as whole, loved, and set apart for Your glory. Shape the way I think, and draw me close to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Forgiveness matters

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Colossians 3:13 NLT

God, just as You have forgiven me unconditionally, You are asking me to forgive others. Please help me to do that. Fill me with humility and empathy, and help me to see other people the way that You see them. Show me how to love people the way that You do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Faithful and Just

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

1 John 1:9 NLT

God, I confess that I have not always been the person You’ve created me to be. I sometimes fail to love You with my whole heart, mind, and soul. I do not always love my neighbors as You love them. Please forgive me, God. Transform my heart and renew my mind so that I can draw closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Guard your heart

So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.

Proverbs 4:23 TPT

Jesus, thank You for loving me unconditionally. Thank You for coming to earth to rescue us. I want to love You the way that You love me. I know that this isn’t easy. I know that this will cost me something. But I want You to be first in my life. So please show me how to guard my heart, and teach me how to become more like You. Amen.

Forgive others

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 4:32 NLT

God, thank You for choosing to forgive me. I don’t deserve Your forgiveness, but I know You are good and loving. I want to be like You, and because You have forgiven me, I want to forgive others. Help me each day to remember Your gift of forgiveness, and release my anger towards those who have wronged me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Intentional trust

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

Psalms 56:3 NLT

God, when I’m afraid, I will put my trust in You. I will rely on You no matter what comes my way because You are my source of strength and safety. You guide me and fight for me. When I draw near to You, I have nothing to fear, because I know that You are in control—and You are all I need. So today, I intentionally choose to trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Give it to God

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 Peter 5:7 NLT

God, You know that I need You. I’m sorry for all the times I’ve pretended that I’m fine on my own. Please forgive me. Today, I come to You just as I am, and I give You all of my anxieties, cares, and worries. Please replace worry with peace, anxiety with hope, and concern with confident trust. I know that I am safe with You, and You can handle my problems. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Devoted to Prayer

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

Colossians 4:2 NLT

God, starting a new habit can be hard, but I want to dedicate time to pray with You each day. Help me to develop a discipline of prayer, offering You thanks for all that You are doing in the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Encourage each other

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 NLT

God, thank You for creating me as part of Your family. I am so grateful for the people in my life who have encouraged me. I pray that I can be an encouragement to others. Help me to be aware of those around me who are discouraged. Show me ways to spread Your love with others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Honor God

O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them.

Isaiah 25:1 NLT

God, I want to use my time to give You honor and praise. You have done incredible things in my life and in the lives of those around me. One day, all people will know of Your power and glory. Until then, please help me to live in such a way that draws people to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Love others

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:14 NLT

Jesus, You showed me what love means when You sacrificed Yourself to save us. Please give me the boldness to love others like You have loved me. Make me aware of Your Holy Spirit, and show me what other people need. Allow me to meet the needs of others by loving them sacrificially. Amen.